Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
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English Page · Branch 647 of 4529
Thoughts of Plato, in the Theaetetus. · Entry 4428
French
p. 1293« Plusieurs (fait il dire à Socrate), quand je leur enlevois quelque opinion extravagante, se sont courroucés... comme font au sujet de leurs enfans celles qui sont mères pour la première fois. » Ce sont là en effet les colères d’un esprit qui n’a jamais rien produit de lui même, qui ne sent pas en soi une fécondité réelle et pleine de son propre fruit. Les phantômes de production qui sont entrés en lui et qui en sortent, les surfaix qu’il met au grand [jour] le charment; il les croit siens et les prend pour ses vrais enfans.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: Thoughts of Plato, in the Theaetetus.
p. 1294“Several (he makes Socrates say), when I took some extravagant opinion from them, grew angry... as first-time mothers do over their children.” These are indeed the angers of a mind that has never produced anything of itself, that does not feel within itself a real fertility full of its own fruit. The phantoms of production that have entered it and emerge from it, the surfaix it brings into broad [daylight], charm it; it believes them its own and takes them for its true children.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · Thoughts of Plato, in the Theaetetus. · Entry 4428
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Joubert’s notebooks return to the work of thinking and writing, the demands of friendship, and questions of faith, beauty and conduct. This edition pairs the French with a new English translation, preserving the order of the chosen source and the unfinished character of its fragments. Dates and source references allow readers to follow a thought through time or return to its printed context.
Historical Text and Translation
The French text follows André Beaunier’s 1938 edition of Les Carnets de Joseph Joubert, published by Gallimard from Joubert’s autograph manuscripts. Volume II continues the notebooks and includes seventy undated pieces. French and English are aligned paragraph by paragraph, retaining the source order, printed dates and page references so readers can return to the facsimile.
About Diotimos Editions
Diotimos Editions prepared this new English translation directly from the French, preserving Joubert’s distinctions, recurring images, ambiguities and unfinished thoughts. Translator’s notes clarify wording, references and uncertain readings: Essential keeps notes that help explain a passage, while All includes technical detail. Annotations from the 1938 source edition remain distinct from the new translator’s notes.
Rights
The linked facsimile records identify the French source as public domain in the United States. The new English translation and editorial notes are © 2026 Diotimos, with source annotations and new editorial contributions credited separately. This edition pairs the complete French notebooks with an independent English translation, preserving the distinction between Joubert’s text and its accompanying notes.